Conveyer apparatus



. 5, 1944. v c. SCHOLL CONVEYER APPARATUS Filed Sept. 30, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheefc l Dec. 5, 1944. c. SCHOLL GONVEYER APPARATUS Filed Sept. 30, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nism: isreadily aeoessiblenfmm Petented Dec. 1944 109mm APPARATUS l C l ai'k"s" choil,f. spfihgfield, Ohio; assi'gnor to The V Steel?PtodimtsEngjneering Company, Spri'nzei ()li io a cotpomtion (if-Ohio 1 I f miic tmn seiitemb ita-o, 1939.,SeniaLNo. 292,,24713 (c1. max-21 39 This invention relates; tm eonibiistiem amid mtus-amd more; pantieulanly oiistokers-isuohiasi 15cm the. feeding. retortif t H i i A; principal: obieet, of the iin aentioni 15517 331 pro.-.- vision oi. aRPUWQZ'E driven Stoker ion feedingsohdi iuel fromat bimto w. netortiwl-iiehi is; enti-zzelw positioned between the and: the netontn which pron-dew pilon pfeeding the that. along at substantially horizontal plane: .ainxii minim-1 mum of powen. and whioh: om. nelatiizel yqsi mi pie construction providing for: great; ease? in; the:

assembly oitheappamatus: and in takingg opoifitt 1 individuat .pairts: thereofi fonthe; purnoserofimaikei ing; repairs; aindi-theilike.

' i A; funthexr obiect isi'thesiprovisiomsuoht stainingiepnainatus in; which theientixe drimeimeehai-a the: exteiiior the feeding aippenatusi i I i A. further: object: is; to, i provide a feeding: o'p-j paraitus in: whichiezi eommom pnwemdni'uesmeens eifects. thew dazivimg. of: an pluraiitm oii-i"comreyen: wormsand-Js conneetedgto 'aophx-e nelity" ofenc-losedadrivec mechanisms each indee-j pendently accessible from feeding-apparatus; i i i. i A. stiliflfurthn: obieo Sui/Q7 pmvidea mstoke v device in whichsthewfliehisi transfemtew from one! coniieyer worm to'amother withralmipimnninpciwe en' requirementand; an. trimming and? crushmgz'of; theg fiielh 1" j i r i Ot-her-objects advantages wil'lflbes azpp'anent: from they fol-l'owmgadesnriptiom. the appended) claims and thewaccompanyingadnawmgsg I lnithewdrawv fir Fig. .1 isa-planc view y broken away, of.

a fuel feeding and stoking apparatus constructs" ed'xin accordance-1m the present. invention;

Fig. 2; is; a, side elevational viewzofi": the appa natus showminEig. 11;"

. Eig: 33' is :a; horizontal sectional taken 'snb 1 ext'emonroifg than at. solid time mm it time) H meansmounted onthetop, of. the. transfer. cham- I hen, .Thetwo feed worms are. preferably arr- I3 positioned intermediate the bingand retort and.

.aisecondoonveyeirworm. l dtwhich feeds the fuel. irom the. transfei: chambeit I3, toitheretont l. 15..

Each. of the. wormsdil andWM. isindividually mounted in. the. tnansier. chamben [-3. and, isv indfir" Dendentiy driven. from a... common power, drive rangedito lie substantially withinesingle horizontal plane, the transfer. chamber: also oecupy ing the same general plane to provide for the.

easy and efiective.. feeding. of theefiielufmmi the i hm] to, m transiei; ohamben; "ancilthe latezali titansferl theneithlzoug and. the. feeding there,

immintoithenetopt. v i The cqnvexenmorm l 2 comprises. a worm. shaft.

It. extendsinto. and. across the bin L09; adjacent the bottomi thereof and. is. suppoxtedf. at its-end. withinhthebinzbynasectionoipipeior tubing I]? mounted: onbneckets l8 adjacent.thereirioi'ev I Ii oftthe, hint; Atrongh 1.9 having) an anouaite .oi vv-shaiped chess-section? be. positioned.

" along the lower. side oi the. Worm... L2; toxassistin.

feeding at contxj olled l quantity of; fiiel foi wardly from the. binea ind to provide m me-my. removal; and, replacement. of ithez feed, worm .withnuti rew Y moving the, iueL from-ithelbinfas isi 'nore tullydei scribed in applicants-eopending, applioationnnow.

Batent. 18o. 2,355 24egpatentedi August 8,, 19.44,

assigned-Ja the same assignee as. thepresent,

invention. Asia also. described. infthis. ot-pend application thepottion oi the. feeding, flight,

I 6.- whiohis received within. the bin is .fpreiemably i of. an tapezred. oonstnuction. as. shown providing ionieedmg it ooritnolledquantitx of fueh with at minimumiof. ohurn ingendmushing: of. the. fueL.

eonueyen wot-mi. t2. passes outwardly; from thebin through a. suitable, opening p iprovidediini Fig.4: is aitrainsizerse section-a1 viemtakensub i stantiallm on theeline At-di at Fig? 15..

Referring to the drawings which" illustrate a preferred": embodiment oi 171186 invention; the referenee. numeral-1 I0? designatesa: bin: having an:

outerwalllliaxfon receiving?az quantityofisoh iiiijersuchi as coal onthe like adapted 'to he fed to; a. retort: l' I: positioned" in spacedrelation with respect to th'ew bin. In accordanoewiththepres ent' i'nvention theyentiie staking apparatus is: lo cated between the. bin: and the retont andoom-- pnisesiai 'conveyerwomr IZ which feeds the fuel flbmi the bini N11 to: a}. transfer *ehamber or boxthe, inner. wall. 20:: thereof. land-i extends thiough ateonveyen tube. 2:! to. the transfer chambert3.

AT removable sheen plate, 22; is pitovid'ed. adjacent the worm outlet of the bin and the eon zeyer tube- 2A." which encloses the. commoner worm between thesihim Illqand; ima-nsfe'nchamber L3 is: pmvidedi with. a,suitaibie.-c1ea,n.-out:openmgadiae centathe: sheen plateifle 1 A2034? member 23v176frenably formed integrally sheaa' plate. Z2 is removahly netained'ini positiom by mhanda. screw 24.1 and proyidee fon closing". the; clean-out: open? inein theioomveyerrtuhei;

1 Tm provide-1fonmdividuaiifi supporting: ands driving the emimfofl the; convexer wormgglz." that} mi-received; within-ithe transfer ohambentae 3;; housing-member 218:; ismounted: on em; end: wall.-

fuel that is being continously advanced by the first conveyer worm l2 during the operation of the feeding apparatus. Preferably the wall 29 is relieved as shown to make for easier and more uniform introduction of the fuel into the second conveyer worm. To assist in feeding the fuel laterally through the passageway 55 of the transfer chamber with a minimum of churning and crushing of ther fuel and" also to-prevent the packing of fuel in the corner of the transfer chamber adjacent the end of the worm shaft shaft 38 and the worm shaft l5, and the shaft 36 thus provides a continuation of the worm 1 shaft which extends outwardly from the side of the transfer chamber that is mostrein ote fromthe bin l8 and terminates within an enlarged portion 34 of the housing 28., A sprocket 35 providing for driving the shaft' 38 and the conl5, a reverse flight 56 is provided on the end of the worrn'shaft l5 adjacent the end wall 29 of the transfer chamber. The reverse flight 56 tends to feed the fuel in the opposite direction from y the forwardly feeding flight l6 and thus assists in causing the fuel to move laterally through the passage 55 while avoiding packing and crushing veyer worm I2 is fixed to the end of the drive shaft 30 within the enlarged housing portion 34, and a thrust bearing 36 is provided between the sprocket and the housing portion 28 for taking the end thrust caused by the conveyer worm during the operation thereof and transmitted to the thrust bearing through the drive shaft 36. The housing portion 34 is open at its outer side to provide for ready access to the drive mecha-- nism therein from'the exterior of the apparatus and a removable closure member 3] provides for normally closing the openouter side of the hous ing.

The second feed worm l4comprises a worm shaft 4| and a flight 42 for feeding fuel forwardly and is received within the transfer chamber l3 with the worm shaft 4| positioned laterally of the worm shaft l5 and extending in spaced overlapping relation with respect thereto. A housing 45 providing a bearing for rotatably supof the fuel in the corner of the transfer chamber. The forward feeding flight l6 and the reverse flight 56 terminate in a spaced relationship providing for free lateral feeding of the fuel with porting a second drive shaft-461s mounted on the outer side of the wall 41 -of the transfer chamber and the shaft 45'is provided with a recessed portion 48 adapted to receive and support the end of the worm shaft 4|. "A suitable detachable driving connectionis provided between the drive shaft 46*and theworm shaft 4|, and the ,drive shaft thus provides a continuation of the worm shaft which extends outwardly from the side of the transfer chamber A;

which is most remote from 'the retort sprocket 58 providing for driving the conveyer worm I4 is keyed to the drive shaft 46 within the housing and a thrust bearing 5| also mounted within the housing 45 provides'for taking the end thrust of the worm. 'As will be clear from the foregoing, both thrust bearings 38 and 5|, aswell as the respective drive sprock-- ets, are located in a protected position within a chamber which is entirely closed off from the path of travel of the fuel. A plate 52 removably attached to the housing 45 provides for normally closing the housing and the drive-sprocket therein, and also serves as a support for the thrust bearing 5|.

In the preferred embodimentof the invention the ends of the conveyer worms I2 and M which are received within'the transfer chamber l3 are positioned in substantially the same horizontal plane and a horizontally arranged transfer passage 55 defined by the walls 29' and 41 of the transfer chamber provides for feeding the fuel from the conveyer worm |2 to the conveyer worm l4. As shown the shape of thispassa'geway 55 is such thatthe fuel will freely move in a lateral direction from the first worm to the second worm'under the action of "the freshsupply of a minimum of churning and crushing of the fuel. The cross-sectional dimensions of the transfer passage are substantially greater than that of the conveyer tubes and hence no obstruction is afforded to the fuel during the transfer from one tube to the other and the action of conveyer flight 42 in picking up the relatively more s10W- 1y moving fuel therefrom is facilitated. To further eliminate any chance of packing or crushing of the fuel within the transfer chamber |3 the conveyer worm |4 preferably removes'the fuel from the transfer chamber at a faster rate than the fuel is fed into the chamber by the conveyer worm i2.

the worm |2 or the worm shaft, 4| may-be rotated at a greater speed than the worm shaft I5. A conveyer tube 6|] encloses the conveyer worm l4 between the transferchamber l3 and the re-a.

tort To adapt the apparatus to different installations in which the distance "between the bin l0 and retort varies the conveyer tube may be provided in a plurality of sections 6| joined together by a suitable removable clamping device 62, it being understood thatas many sections 6| will be provided as is required for a given installation. A suitable clamping device 63 pro vides for'removably attaching the conveyer tubing to the retort The retort is illustrated as being of the under-feed type and is provided with an opening-65 through which the fuel is fed upwardly by the conveyer worm I4. able tuyres 66 for supplying combustion air to the fuel are also preferabl provided in the retort.

As described above a common power drive means is mounted on the transfer chamber l3 and is independently connected to the worm conveyers I2 and I4 to effect the operation thereof. As shown a gear housing 68 having suitable reduction gearing provided therein is supported above the closed wall of transfer chamber tilt and an electriomotor 69 is resiliently mounted on the top of the gear housing 68 and is con-V nected to'the gearing within the housing by means of a belt 'lflwhich runs over aipulley 1| mounted on the motor shaft and a, pulley 12 mounted on a shaft 13 extending'outwardly from the gear housing. mounted upon the top of the portion 34 of the housing 28 and provides a support for the gear casing 68 towhich it is attachedL-A horizontal drive shaft! having" its axis parallel with :the.

For this purpose the conveyer worm |4 may have a greater capacity than Suit A housing member I4 is r machine drive: shaft an and the worm shaft l: extends from thegear housing 68iinto the housing 14, and a sprocket 18 is attached to the shaft within the housing-14a. A-suitable opening is provided between the housing members 28 and T4 and a chain it: extends :around the sprocket 16in housin'g 1-4 and' sprocket in theportion 34 of housing 28 toprovide a driving connection between the power drive means and the worm conveyer i It. Theremovablecover plate 3 1- extends' upward'ly and normally closesthe housing Ht as well as the housing portion 3'4 but provides for ready access to= the drive mechanism positioned therein from the exterior of the apparatusupon removal of the cover plate.

i The d'riveshaft 15 also extends'outwardly from the opposite'side of the -gear housing 68 wi'th its axis parallelwiththe axis of the drive shaft 46 andthe worm shaft 4t as indicated at 80 and terminates within a; housing member 8 I mounted on the topofthehousing member 45. A sprocket 82f is attached"to the shaft'flportion- 80 within the housing 8| and a' chain 83 extends through an opening provided between the housing members 8 l and and connects the sprocket 1 82 with the sprocket within the housing: 45 130 provide a driving connection between the power drive means and the worm conveyer; A plate 84=is r'emovably attached- -to'the outersideof the housingfl l to normally close the housing but permit readiy access thereto from the exteriorvof the apparatus; The power drive means is thusindependently connected tothetW0 -worm conveyers and the drive mechanisms are individually accessiblefroml outside of the apparatus. Thetpower drive-means =also provides for supplying aii under forced draft to the tuyres of the retort. Forthis purpose a blower 88 1s mounted on one side of the; gear housing '6 8- and is provided with an air duct 89*whichextends frt0m thesblower to theretort. H and provides for supplying air to the tuyeres'of theretort; A second. air duct 9 0 similarly connected to the opposite side of' the retort is of such: length that the closed end will just come to the outside of the I largest furnace in which thisunitmight be installed and: isrprovided for thepurpose of cleanin'g: out the siftings and riddlings that enter the j plenum chamberthrough: the tuyre openings and" which shouldbe cleaned out once each season, or. oftener if'necessary in order to prevent restrictionof. the: air to the. fuel; The shaft"'13 which is operatively connected with the motor 69k byimeans of the belt 10 and pulleys 'll' and 12a: extends. from; the; gear: housing 68 intor the blower 88 and provides for operatinggthe blower under the controller the motor 69. A clutch and change speed gearing member 9| provides for disconnecting the gearing within the housing 68 from the shaft 13 to permit selective operation ofthe blower alone or of both the blowerand of the fuel feeding apparatus at a predetermined desired rate of feed. Ahousing 95 is positioned adjacent the blower 88 and air duct 89 and encloses suitable mechanism which provides for regulation of the blower to supply combustion air under proper predetermined conditions of pressure.

Upon operation of the motor 89 and actuation of the clutch lever 9| to cause operation of the reduction gearing within the housing 68 the worm conveyer l2 will rotate to receive fuel from within the bin l0 and advance it forwardly to the transfer chamber 13 and the conveyer worm [4 will rotate to'advance the fuel from the transfer chamber tozthe retort Hi." At theisameitime the blower 881' is: operated ton supply combustion ainto the retort? The forwardifeeding: flight 1-6pm the worm shaftl t5 in cooperation with the reverse flight 58 our the worm shaftwcaaises the fuel to feed laterally: within! the transfer: chainher with a minimum. of churning and; crushing of the fuel" and without packing ofl the fuel: within the corners of the transferr chamber. Each horizontal plane thus providing for" the feeding ofi' fuel from the. bottom of the bin and to a rela ti'velylow'positionedpretortr of the; apparatus is positionedbetween the bin and thezretort; and"; accordingly, the necessity for additional floor space beyond the: furnace proper'andrithe use: of relattyely long worm: shafts with consequent strain and twisting: therein. is avoided; and the feeding of the fuel is: accomplished with: maxi:- mum efficiencyand a minimium powen reqnires ment. t

The present; vantage with a ratchet, typerdrive which: a

ratchetmechanismi within the'gearf' casing prolvides for rotating the worm conveyer an intermittent or impulsezactiong. each: impulse preferably comprising? aconsiderable; part of i one complete revolution: of the worm and pre- Thustby the provision of relatively short worm shafts and thereby: avoiding substantial, torsion and consequent: recoil. therein under the action of the impulse drive, the: operation of the ratchet drive is inadeimorer positive-and the wear" on v the mechanism within the gean'casing. is sub stantiallyreduced; i

While the form of apparatus herein. described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the ire venti'on, it is to be understood that l the inventionisnot limited to this precise formof appariratus, and" that changes may be; made therein without departing from the'scope oflthe inven 1 tion which is defined in theappended' claims 8 -l. A domestic stoker for withdrawing solid me from a binandfeeding the same forwardly to a retort to be delivered upwardly thereinto while preventing escape of fuel or dust and with a minimum of working and grinding or the fuel in transit comprising a first conveyer worm shaft extending in a straight line in a substantially horizontal plane from within the bin to a position forwardly thereof; flights onsaid worm shaft providing for feeding fuel forwardly, a closed conveyer tube enclosing the portion of said worm shaft forwardly of said bin pre- 5 venting escape of fuel and dust therefrom and located closely adjacent the level of the bin floor, a second conveyer'worm shaft having an end thereof overlapping the forward end of said first shaft and lying in the same horizontal plane therewith and in laterally spaced relation with respect thereto, said second worm shaft extending forwardly into the lower part of a invention is at pamticnlar' ads retort, flights on said second worm shaft providing for feeding fuel forwardly with sufficient pressure to deliver the fuel upwardly to said retort, a closed conveyer tube enclosing said sec-,

ceiving the adjacent ends of said conveyer tubes in sealed relation and with the overlapping wormshafts exposed therein forming a transverse substantially horizontal passageway providing for free feeding of the fuel from the flight on said first worm shaft to the flight on said second worm shaft while retainingthe fuel in said same horizontal plane, means on said transfer chamber for rotatably supporting the adjacent ends of said worm shafts with extensions of said shafts extending outwardly beyond the enclosing walls of said transfer chamber respectively, power drive means mounted on said transfer chamber, and means providing separate direct connections elxtending downwardly respectively from said power drive means to said outwardly extended extensions of said worm shafts. V

,2. A domestic stoker adapted to be positioned directly upon the basement floor for withdrawing solid fuel from a bin and feeding the" same forwardly to a retort to be delivered upwardly thereinto while preventing escape of fuel or dust and with a minimum of working and grinding of the fuel in transit comprising a first conveyer worm shaft adapted to extend in a straight line from within the bin to an intermediate position forwardly of the bin, a second conveyer worm shaft having an end thereof overlapping the forward end of said first shaft in the same horizontal plane therewith and in laterally spaced relation with respect thereto, said second worm shaft extending forwardly from said intermediate position and into a retort, a-transfer chamber at said intermediate position for receiving the adjacent ends of said shafts and having an enclosing casing defining a transverse passageway in the same horizontal plane with said worm shafts, the walls of said passageway being relieved in the direction of fuel movement providing for free lateral feeding of fuel from the flight on said first shaft to the flight on said second shaft without crushing or packing thereof, a closed conveyer tube enclosing said first. wor'm shaft and extending from the wall of said bin to one side of said transfer chamber forming a closed and sealed passage for delivery of the fuel, a, closed conveyer tube enclosing said second worm shaft and extend ing from the opposite side of said transfer chamber to said retort forming a closed and sealed passage for delivery of the fuel, both, said tubes being located immediately adjacent the basement floor and in closely spaced relation to each other at their overlapping ends, flights on said worm shafts for developing a forward; feeding pressure within said closed tubes, drive while preventing escape of fuel or dust and with a minimum of working and grinding of the fuel .in transit comprising a first conveyer worm I shaft adapted to extend in a straight line from f,,within the bin to a position forwardly thereof,

[a second worm shaft having an end thereof overlapping the forward end of said first worm shaft in the same horizontal plane and in latlerally spaced relation with respect thereto, said second worm shaft extending forwardly in the I fsame general direction as said first shaft and "into a retort, a transfer chamber for receiving the adjacent ends of said shafts in immediately "adjacent relation and having an enclosing casjfing defining a short transverse passageway in the same horizontal plane with said shafts of sufficient cross-sectional area to provide for I free flow of fuel therethrough, a closed. conveyer tube between said bin and said transfer chamber and between said transfer chamber and said retort for enclosing and sealing said respective worm shafts, flights on said first worm shaft for developing forward feeding pressure to cause the fuel to flow laterally through said transverse passageway, flights on said second worm shaft for developing a forward feed-v ing pressure to cause the fuel to flow upwardly into said retort, each said worm shaft having a part extending outwardly beyond the adjacent end wall of said transfer chamber, power drive means mounted on the :casing of said transfer chamber above said horizontal plane and. having a power shaft extending outwardly from each of two opposite sides thereof in substantial alignment with said worm shaft extending parts, and means for separately connecting said power shafts with said respective worm shaft extending parts.

. CLARK SCHOLL. 

